Investigators with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department on Monday, April 21 arrested a Lexington woman and a Columbia man for breaking into motor vehicles and criminal conspiracy.

Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts said deputies arrested Hannah Guyton Laird, 19, of 105 Timbermill Crossing, Lexington and charged her with five counts of breaking into a motor vehicle and one count of criminal conspiracy.

Metts also said that deputies arrested Matthew Grainger Shelley, 25, of 1450 Brentwood Drive, Columbia and charged him with five counts of breaking into a motor vehicle and one count of criminal conspiracy.

Arrest warrants further allege that sometime between April 14 and April 21, Shelley and Laird unlawfully entered a vehicle at a residence located at 113 Pine Mill Court, near Lexington.

On Monday, April 21 at approximately 4:30 a.m., deputies responded to a call for service for suspicious persons looking into people’s cars on Black Pine Court, near Lexington. Officers located Laird and Shelley who told the officers they were out in the neighborhood looking for a lost dog. Laird advised officers that she lived in the neighborhood.

After recording their information, the officer continued to patrol the neighborhood and spotted a suspicious vehicle parked in an unlighted area. The officer also noticed a backpack on the ground under the vehicle. The officer inspected the backpack and noticed it was filled with several electronic devices and a wallet. The officer established the vehicle belonged to Laird. A short time later Laird and Shelley were arrested and provided confessions to officers for breaking into vehicles in the neighborhood.

Metts asked anyone with any information about additional criminal activity involving Laird and Shelley to contact investigators at (803)785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC. Citizens can also provide tips anonymously by clicking on the Crime Tip link on the Sheriff’s Department website, www.lexingtonsheriff.com.